NGSS Standard: MS-ESS2-5

Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking 

Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect 

Year Created: 2018

Phenomena: As an introduction to this unit, students watched a video of a tanker imploding and completed the crushing can experiment. They used these phenomena to explain the relationship among temperature, pressure, and density. 

Reflection: This assessment was used to assess the standard on air mass interactions while also practicing the scientific practice of using mathematical and computational thinking. After completing a weather log for three weeks, students used that data to create graphs and analyze relationships between wind speed, temperature, and pressure. Next time I use this assessment, I will give them more support in creating their graphs, as they struggled to remember to label the axises. For the second part of the assessment, students analyzed data to determine which type of weather front the data best represented, using notes that they had taken during previous lessons. Most students were successful in their ability to identify the type of weather front.